"I'm home."
Haruka stepped through the door of his family's home, his mind still reeling from his encounter with the young vigilante, Robin. As he closed the door behind him, a familiar face greeted him.
"Haruka! You're back," Megan said, a warm smile spreading across her features. She had been staying with the Kojima family for the past few days, and Haruka felt a sense of protectiveness whenever he saw her.
Hana and Matsu were initially taken aback when Haruka unexpectedly brought Megan. However, the couple quickly grew fond of Megan, almost as if she had become the daughter they never had the chance to raise. It was a surprising but welcome development that brought a new sense of warmth and joy into the Kojima household.
"Hey, Megan," he replied, returning her smile. "How was your day?"
"It was wonderful, Haruka! Your parents took me to the park, and we had such a lovely picnic. Your mother made the most delicious homemade dishes, and we played games together."
"It's good to hear you had fun."
"How was your day, Haruka?"
Haruka thought about the strange encounter with Robin and replied, "Just met a new friend."
Megan's eyes widened with curiosity. "A new friend? Tell me more!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.
Haruka paused, considering how much to share. "Well, he's a bit...unique. We had an interesting conversation, but I'm not sure what to make of him yet." He gave Megan a reassuring smile, not wanting to worry her with the details of his superhero activities.
Hana noticed Haruka's return and greeted him warmly. "Haruka! Welcome back, dear. Sorry, but we've run out of soy sauce. Can you buy some quick?"
"Sure, Mom," Haruka replied.
Hana turned to Megan, who had been staying with them. "Why not bring Megan while you're at it?"
"I would love to!" Megan said excitedly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Haruka and Megan headed out the door, the young woman eager to accompany him on the simple errand. Hana watched them go, a fond smile on her face as she saw the growing bond between the two.
Haruka and Megan climbed onto the sleek Auto Vajin motorcycle. Haruka handed Megan a spare helmet, and she secured it with a bright smile. "Hold on tight," he instructed, revving the engine. Megan wrapped her arms around his waist, and they sped off towards the grocery mall, the wind whipping through their hair. Haruka navigated the city streets with practiced ease, Megan's laughter ringing out as they weaved through traffic. The familiar route soon gave way to the bustling parking lot of the mall, and Haruka brought the Auto Vajin to a smooth stop.
Haruka and Megan entered the bustling grocery mall, the young woman's eyes widening as she took in the sights and sounds around her. Haruka gently guided her, pointing out the different aisles and sections.
"Alright, let's see what we need," Haruka said, consulting the list his mother had given him. He began navigating the aisles, Megan trailing behind him, her gaze darting from one product to the next.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, "Haruka?"
Turning, Haruka spotted Kara Danvers, his close friend, pushing a shopping cart down the aisle. "Kara! What a coincidence," he greeted, a smile spreading across his face.
"I know, right?" Kara replied, returning the smile. Her gaze shifted to Megan, who stood beside Haruka, looking slightly uncertain. "And who's this?" she asked, her tone warm and curious.
"This is Megan," Haruka introduced. "She's been staying with my family for a little while. Megan, this is Kara, a good friend of mine."
Megan offered a shy smile. "It's nice to meet you, Kara."
Kara's eyes widened slightly, and she glanced between Haruka and Megan. "It's great to meet you too, Megan. I didn't know Haruka had a new friend staying with him."
Haruka explained to Kara, "Megan didn't have a home to go to, so my family offered to let her stay with us for a while." Megan then hugged Haruka's arm, looking up at him with gratitude. "Haruka has been so kind to me. I don't know what I'd do without him and his family."
As Megan clung to Haruka, Kara felt her chest tighten, though she couldn't quite understand why. She watched the intimate gesture, her brow furrowing slightly. Kara quickly tried to push down the unexpected emotion, offering Megan a warm smile.
"I'm glad you have a place to stay."
Haruka glanced between the two women, sensing a slight tension in the air. "We were just picking up some soy sauce for my mom. Would you like to join us, Kara?"
Kara hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering to Megan. "I'd love to, but I actually have some errands to run. Maybe we can all get together another time?" she suggested, trying to sound casual.
"Of course," Haruka replied. "We'll have to figure something out soon."
Kara nodded, her eyes briefly meeting Megan's before she turned and continued on her way, leaving Haruka and Megan to finish their shopping trip.
"Kara seems nice."
Haruka nodded in agreement. "She is. Kara's been a good friend to me."
Haruka glanced down at the list in his hand. "Alright, let's continue and get the rest of the groceries on this list," he said, giving Megan an encouraging smile.
Megan nodded happily, her eyes bright. "Sounds good. Lead the way, Haruka," she replied, falling into step beside him as they made their way down the aisle.
Kara, meanwhile, kept thinking back to Haruka and Megan. She told herself they were just friends, nothing more, but as she glanced back towards them, her x-ray vision involuntarily activated. Through the walls, she could see Haruka and Megan smiling at each other, their body language intimate.
Kara felt her heart clench as an unexpected emotion gripped her. She couldn't quite understand why the sight of them together made her feel this way. Furrowing her brow, Kara tried to push down the strange feeling, but it lingered, weighing heavily on her chest.
Without another word, Kara turned and flew away, her cape billowing behind her. She needed to get away, to clear her head and make sense of this unfamiliar sensation. As the distance between her and the grocery store grew, Kara couldn't help but wonder why the thought of Haruka and Megan together left her feeling so...
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